NWC FEDERAL SPOTLIGHT (Oct. 20, 2023)

NWC members,

We’re delighted to report the successful culmination of our 2023 Annual Meeting in Sacramento, held at the beginning of October. To all those who couldn’t attend, please know that your absence was felt, and we hope to see you next time. The event saw an unprecedented turnout, boasting more than 270 enthusiastic registrants, and the energy was absolutely electrifying. For an Annual Meeting recap and information on upcoming NWC events (including dates for the 2024 Legislative Summit, committee, and caucus meetings, you can find it all in the NWC Spotlight section.

(Hint: If you are interested in federal policy issues or whether (or not) water supply should be a key mission of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, you may want to check out the NWC Spotlight).

We’re also thrilled to extend a warm welcome to our newest member, the Miami Conservancy District. Take a moment to get to know them under our New Member Spotlight.

Speaking of new members, in anticipation of the NWC’s upcoming website overhaul, we’re experimenting with a new section dedicated to showcasing member announcements, job opportunities, and publications. If you have any ideas, please do not hesitate to share them with us. For now, let’s affectionately call this section the “Everything-But-the-Kitchen-Sink Member Spotlight.”

Don’t forget to explore our Federal Agency Spotlight to stay updated on the latest news from federal agencies, meetings, grant information, and much more. Please note, while note listed under the Federal Spotlight, at NWC’s Annual Meeting at the beginning of the month, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) Michael Connor stated that the proposed rule on Principles, Requirements, and Guidelines (PR&G) may be released as early as November. Stay tuned!

Lastly, we’re counting down to November 17th, which marks the end of the current Continuing Resolution (CR). As a reminder, the CR is in place to keep the federal government running beyond October 1st, which signals the start of the current fiscal year, in the absence of approved appropriations. This year, we anticipate some challenges in completing this work, as the House of Representatives has been without a permanent speaker for over 17 days following Kevin McCarthy’s removal as House Speaker earlier this month. This is an unprecedented situation, marking the first time in U.S. history that this has occurred. Until a new House speaker is elected, no official business can be conducted in the chamber. To delve deeper into this issue, read about it in our  Congressional Spotlight.

As always, should you have any questions, concerns, or innovative ideas, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.

Best,

Julie, NWC

NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

 NWC WELCOMES NEW MEMBER – MIAMI CONSERVANCY DISTRICT! Miami Conservancy District (MCD) is a pioneering organization that has been at the forefront of flood control, conservation, and watershed management since 1915. MCD was established after the disastrous 1913 flood that caused widespread destruction and loss of life in Ohio’s Miami Valley region. The organization’s founders recognized the urgent need for a coordinated approach to managing the region’s water resources and preventing future floods.

EVERYTHING-BUT-THE-KITCHEN-SINK MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

JOB OPENING. Trinity River Authority is searching for a Manager, Southern Region. This is an executive management position solely responsible to the General Manager for the performance of the duties assigned to that staff group, which involve the application of management, financial, engineering, and administrative knowledge to the development of revenue-oriented projects and the effective administration and operation of those projects, where applicable. This individual may establish operating policies and resolve management, administrative, and engineering problems in conjunction with other staff groups and the General Manager. For more information or to apply, click here.

CONGRESSIONAL SPOTLIGHT

OVERVIEW: Both the House and Senate are in session. Let’s talk about the Senate first. The Senate came back this week after a week-long recess. There is increased focus on nominations, especially to fill the open U.S. ambassador position to Israel, after the Hamas-Israel conflict has escalated. Senate Committees also plan to work on a supplemental aid package that the Senate can vote on in the coming weeks.

On the House front, a quest is underway to find a new Speaker, prompted by the removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy over 17 days ago by members of his party. This unprecedented removal came about following McCarthy’s compromise with Democrats to ensure the federal government remained operational beyond the start of the new fiscal year on October 1. This extension was achieved through the passage of a Continuing Resolution, extending FY2023 government funding until November 17.

As a reminder, the appropriations for the federal government for Fiscal Year 2023 expired on September 30, and Fiscal Year 2024 commenced on October 1. The dilemma stemmed from the fact that none of the 12 appropriations bills had been signed into law due to policy conflicts. As September ended, the looming threat of a government shutdown was almost inevitable until McCarthy reached across the aisle to work with Democrats.

Until a new Speaker is elected, no business can be conducted on the House floor, except for the election of a speaker. Right now, there is a lot of uncertainty on Capitol Hill on a pathway forward.

217 is the magic number. The intricate balance within the House of Representatives has added complexity to the Speaker’s race. At present, two House seats remain vacant due to the resignations of one Republican and one Democrat.  With a total of 433 members, House Republicans hold 221 seats, while Democrats control 212. The magic number to clinch the speakership is 217 which means a potential Speaker can only lose 4 GOP votes. However, the 217 threshold is flexible and may adjust downward based on absent members or members voting “present” (rather than voting Yea or Nay).

The pathway forward on electing a new speaker is uncertain. The difficulty in the Republican Party’s decision-making process regarding the future Speaker of the House can be attributed to several factors, disagreements about who should be in leadership, the future direction of the party, as well as internal divisions and policy disputes.

The first two candidates to enter the Speaker’s race included Reps. Steve Scalia (R-La.) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). While Scalia originally got the thumbs up from the GOP caucus, it quickly became apparent that he did not have the needed votes on the floor and withdrew from the race, leaving Rep. Jordan. However, after three failed votes on the House floor, on Friday (Oct. 20), the House GOP voted to rescind Jordan’s Speaker nomination, which opens the door to other potential GOP Speaker nominees waiting in the wings, but at this point, there is no consensus on who should lead. As an alternative, it has been proposed that the House change the rules to elect the temporary Speaker, Patrick McHenry (R-NC), as a semi-permanent Speaker for the next 80 days or even to re-elect McCarthy to his former Speaker position.

It’s worth noting that when McCarthy was removed as Speaker, the clerk of the House revealed a secret envelope provided by McCarthy upon taking the seat last January, which listed possible members who could serve as Speaker in case he was unable to fulfill the role. However, under current House rules, this temporary Speaker has limited authority to conduct congressional business, being primarily responsible for electing a new Speaker.

In the meantime, the absence of a speaker has impacted the House’s ability to conduct official business, a matter of concern given that the current CR to keep the federal government open is set to expire in less than 30 days.

Want to know more? Check out these articles and resources.

FY2024 Appropriations. While the FY2024 for the federal government technically began on Oct. 1, as alluded to above, on Sept. 30 Congress passed and the President enacted a CR to extend fiscal year 2023 funding to Nov. 17 to give the chambers time to negotiate a final 12 bill package by that date. The Speaker’s race has thrown a curve ball into this timing since no official business can occur on the House floor until a speaker is elected. Currently, the House has passed 4 of the 12 FY2024 appropriations bills (Senate 0).

Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) remains a work in progress, with ongoing efforts behind the scenes for WRDA 2024. WRDA, a bill renewed every two years, serves to authorize various civil works studies, projects, and policies overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Notably, WRDA stands out as a rare example of bipartisan collaboration in Congress. For WRDA 2024 development, Democrats and Republicans have adopted online portals for several cycles to collect and evaluate proposals from their members. These proposals undergo a joint vetting process, where only those that secure bipartisan agreement advance to the next stage.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee recently closed its portal, and in the coming months, they will meticulously review the proposals before translating them into legislative text. Their goal is to conduct a markup of the WRDA 2024 bill early next year.

On the House side, the initial plan was to launch their portal in November, close it in early January, and hold a markup for their version of WRDA 2024 in late February or early March. However, the timeline might be affected by the ongoing Speaker race.

Given these developments, it is advisable that NWC members who wish to submit studies, projects, or policy proposals for consideration should initiate discussions with their House members regarding the office(s) internal processes for vetting WRDA 2024 proposals (Note: don’t be surprised if each House member has a different internal process to vet constituent WRDA proposals).

If you are interested in this issue, you may want to check out the WRDA hearing that is planned in the House, tentatively scheduled for next week.

Hearings of interest (Bolded names have not taken place yet, while non-bolded names have already occurred):

FEDERAL AGENCY SPOTLIGHT

BUREAU OF RECLAMATION

GRANT. FY2024 WaterSMART Drought Resiliency Projects (applications due Nov. 7, 2023). The Bureau of Reclamation is accepting applications for its WaterSmart Drought Response Program until Nov. 7. Award ceiling is $5 million and the award floor is $25,000 for projects making our water supply more resilient. Eligible projects include: infrastructure improvements; groundwater recovery; improving decision making through tools, modeling and measurement and construction of domestic water supply projects for tribes or disadvantaged communities.

WEBINAR.  WaterSMART Water Recycling and Desalination Construction Funding Opportunities (Virtual, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023 at 1pm ET). Reclamation’s WaterSMART Program will host a webinar to discuss the multiple water recycling and desalination construction funding opportunities currently open on grants.gov. The webinar will include information regarding eligibility, program requirements, and the selection process for the following funding opportunities: 1) Title XVI Congressionally Authorized Projects; 2) Title XVI WIIN Act Projects; 3) Desalination Construction Projects; and 4) Large-Scale Water Recycling Projects. Click here to join the live event or use the same link to watch a recording after the completion of the live event.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

REPORT: DOD releases report on PFAS/PFOS contamination at military bases. In September 2023, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations and Environment released sent a report on “Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Groundwater” to the House and Senate Committees on Armed Services on the status of PFAS clean up at military bases. According to the report, 245 out of 275 impacted military installations have contamination near “groundwater aquifers that serve as a primary or secondary source of drinking water…which are at or adjacent to military installations.” This report was mandated by Congress.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

GRANTS AWARDED. Section 242: Hydroelectric Production Incentive Program. On October 11, 2023, DOE announced 66 hydro facilities throughout the country will receive more than $38 million in incentive payments for electricity generated and sold in calendar years 2021 and 2022 (CY 21 and CY22). See the full list of selected grantees. The Hydroelectric Production Incentive Program was established under Section 242 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 by an act of Congress. Administered by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), this initiative offers financial incentives to eligible hydroelectric facilities for the electricity they generate and sell. Although the program was initially authorized in 2005, it received its first allocation of funding from Congress in 2014. Subsequently, annual funding for the program has been consistently allocated through the appropriations process. Additionally, in November 2021, Congress approved an allocation of $125 million for the program as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) intends to commence the grant application period for electricity generated and sold in CY23 during the spring of 2024.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

POLICY CHANGE. EPA rescinds March 2023 cybersecurity memo. On October 11, 2023, the EPA announced its decision to revoke a memorandum from March 2023 regarding Addressing Public Water System Cybersecurity in Sanitary Surveys of an Alternative Process. This action was prompted by a July 2023 court ruling in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, which placed a temporary hold on the memorandum. The March 2023 memorandum had previously mandated that operators of sanitary sewer systems conduct cybersecurity assessments as part of their audits of public water systems. However, it faced swift legal challenges primarily due to the financial burden it placed on operators, who claimed they were required to pass these costs on to consumers. In July 2023, the court concurred with these concerns and invalidated the memorandum.

WEBINAR. EPA Clean Ports Program Webinar (Oct. 31, 2023; 1pm—3pm EST). On October 31st, between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM Eastern Time, the EPA’s Ports Initiative is organizing a webinar to discuss the forthcoming Clean Ports Program. This program, funded at $3 billion under the Inflation Reduction Act, is dedicated to supporting the adoption of zero-emission equipment and technology in ports and assisting in the development of climate action plans aimed at reducing air pollutants in U.S. port areas. The Clean Ports Program is an extension of the EPA’s Ports Initiative, which plays a vital role in helping our nation’s ports, an essential component of our infrastructure and supply chain, mitigate the public health and environmental impacts on nearby communities. Anticipated availability for program funding applications is expected through a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) to be released in late winter (February/March) 2024. The webinar will provide an update on critical program design elements, including details on eligible activities and equipment, evaluation criteria, program structure, timeline, and more. The webinar will be recorded and available on EPA’s ports initiative website. To register, click here.

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION. Vessel Incidental Discharge National Standards of Performance (Supplemental rulemaking; comments due Dec. 18, 2023). On October 26, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced a set of national performance standards for marine pollution control devices, in accordance with the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA). These standards pertain to discharges resulting from the routine operations of vessels, primarily those exceeding 79 feet in length, which are non-military and non-recreational, into U.S. waters and the contiguous zone. This document, often referred to as “the proposed rule,” served as the initial proposal. This supplementary notice now presents data related to the type approval of ballast water management systems that the EPA has received from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) since the original proposal. Additionally, it introduces supplementary regulatory options that the EPA is contemplating regarding discharges from ballast tanks, vessel hulls, niche areas, and graywater systems. These supplementary options have been developed based on feedback received during the first public comment period and subsequent meetings held with concerned states, tribes, and other stakeholders between August and November 2021. The EPA is specifically seeking public input on the information provided in this document. It’s important to note that the Agency is not seeking public comments on any other aspects of the proposed rule that are not addressed in this document. All comments on this document, as well as the comments on the proposed rule, will be taken into consideration during the final rule development process.

MEETING. Public Meeting of the Environmental Financial Advisory Board (EFAB) With Webcast (Hybrid, Oct. 24-25, 2023). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a public meeting with a webcast of the Environmental Financial Advisory Board (EFAB). The meeting will be shared in real-time via webcast and public comments may be provided in writing in advance or virtually via webcast. The purpose of the meeting will be for the EFAB to discuss possible future advisory charges, provide updates on previous EFAB deliverables, and to understand and consider environmental finance issues in the Great Lakes region and Michigan. The EFAB is an EPA advisory committee chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) to provide advice and recommendations to EPA on innovative approaches to funding environmental programs, projects, and activities. Administrative support for the EFAB is provided by the Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Finance Center within EPA’s Office of Water.

MEETING. Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) and Small Communities Advisory Subcommittee (SCAS) Meeting (In person/virtual; Oct. 23, 2023).  EPA’s LGAC Committee is scheduled to meet in person and virtually on Monday, Oct. 23 from 9am—5pm CT in Madison, Wisc. to discuss draft recommendations on environmental justice and implementation of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund; meet with the EPA regional office and state municipal leagues to discuss ways to improve strategic communications; and discuss new charges related to climate change and waste management. For more information on the meeting and/or to register, go here.

GRANTS. Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant Program (applications close Nov. 17, 2023). Through this grant program, EPA is soliciting applications to assist in the development and utilization of innovative activities relating to workforce development and career opportunities in the water utility sector. $20.8 million is available with an award ceiling of $1 million. For more information, click here.

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION. FEMA Publishes a Proposed Rule for Public Comment on the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) (comments due by Dec. 1, 2023). FEMA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register for revisions to its floodplain management regulations on Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands. The proposed rule would fully implement FFRMS at FEMA and would apply to federally funded actions involving new construction, substantial improvement or repairs to substantial damage. FFRMS also apply to hazard mitigation projects involving structure elevation, dry floodproofing and mitigation reconstruction. Comments will be accepted until Dec. 1, 2023.

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION. Programmatic/Class Floodplain Review Procedures for Specific Preparedness Grant Projects (Comments due Nov. 3, 2023). The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is publishing this notice to document and request comments on its determination that a programmatic/class review is appropriate for six categories of activities in specific grant programs that do not have an adverse impact individually or cumulatively on floodplain values placing property and persons at risk. Comments are due Nov. 3, 2023.

MEETING. Technical Mapping Advisory Council (Virtual; Oct. 27, 2023). The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Technical Mapping Advisory Council (TMAC) will hold a virtual public meeting on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, from 8am—5pm ET. The purpose of this meeting is for the TMAC members to discuss the content of the 2023 TMAC Annual Report.

GRANTS. FEMA announced nearly $2 billion in funding for climate resilience (applications accepted until Feb. 29, 2024). FEMA recently announced $1.8 billion available for two grant programs designed to help communities increase their resilience to the effects of climate change, including increasingly frequent and extreme weather events. The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) annual grant program makes $1 billion available for projects that protect people and infrastructure from natural hazards and the effects of climate change. The Flood Mitigation Assistance program makes $800 million available for projects that mitigate flood risks facing homes and communities nationwide. FEMA provides additional financial and technical support to help overburdened and underserved communities build resilience. This includes cost share adjustments and helps complete a Benefit-Cost Analysis for certain communities. The agency is also expanding BRIC Direct Technical Assistance with a goal to add at least 80 more communities to the current 74 local jurisdictions nationwide. The application period opens on Oct. 16. Eligible applicants must apply for funding using FEMA Grants Outcomes, FEMA’s grants management system. Applications must be submitted in the portal no later than 3 p.m. ET on Feb. 29, 2024. FEMA will not consider applications after this deadline. FEMA has planned three live webinars for government officials to learn more about preparing applications. Subjects will include technical and qualitative criteria, application pitfalls and repetitive loss properties. Visit FEMA.gov for more information about Hazard Mitigation Assistance

REPORTS. The Economic Case for Coastal Resilience. FEMA recently released a report on The Economic Case for Coastal Resilience which argues for resiliency and hazard mitigation efforts, especially in underserved communities, to save lives.  The reports includes a list of recommendations from moving buildings from flood zones and/or raising structures, updating critical infrastructure, incorporate natural and nature-based features, update building codes and more.

WEBINARS. Community Disaster Resilience Zones Informational Webinars. On Sept. 6, FEMA announced the first 483 Community Disaster Resilience Zones in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. FEMA used the National Risk Index and other tools to identify the census tracts across the country that are most at risk from the effects of natural hazards and climate change and most in need. These designated zones will receive technical assistance and financial support for projects to help communities build resilience to natural hazards.Join FEMA in an upcoming informational webinar to learn more about the vision for the Community Disaster Resilience Zones Act, the designation methodology, and future opportunities for partnership and investment. The content is the same for both sessions: Oct. 25, 2023, 3 – 4 p.m. ET. Webinar Registration – Zoom (zoomgov.com) AND Oct. 31, 2023, 1 – 2 p.m. ET. Webinar Registration – Zoom (zoomgov.com). To learn more about the initial designations in each state and the District of Columbia and to view an interactive map, visit this webpage. FEMA will announce additional designations for tribal nations and territories later this fall.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION

MEETING. Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness (In person; Oct. 25, 2023). The Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness is scheduled to meet in person in Washington DC on Oct. 25, 2023, to discuss supply chain resilience and congestion; trade and competitiveness; freight movement and policy; trade innovation; regulatory issues; finance and infrastructure; and workforce development. The Committee provides advice to the Secretary of Commerce on the necessary elements of a comprehensive policy approach to supply chain competitiveness and on regulatory policies and programs and investment priorities that affect the competitiveness of U.S. supply chains. The Office of Supply Chain, Professional, and Business Services will post the final detailed agenda on its website.

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION. Guidance for Grants and Agreements; Proposed Rule (Comments due by Dec. 4, 2023). The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is proposing to revise sections of OMB Guidance for Grants and Agreements. This proposed revision reflects comments received from Federal agencies and those received in response to the OMB Notice of Request for Information published in the Federal Register in February 2023. In response to Federal agency and public input, OMB is proposing revisions intended in many cases to reduce agency and recipient burden. OMB proposes both policy changes and clarifications to existing guidance including plain language revisions. OMB also proposes to update the guidance to reflect recent OMB priorities related to Federal financial assistance. Finally, OMB is proposing revisions to improve Federal financial assistance management, transparency, and oversight through more accessible and readily comprehensible guidance. Comments on these changes are due Dec. 4, 2023.

OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION. Request for Information to Support the Development of a Federal Environmental Justice Science, Data, and Research Plan (Comments due Dec. 12, 2023). The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) seeks information to assist in developing a coordinated Federal strategy to identify and address gaps in science, data, and research related to environmental justice. Information received through this RFI will inform the biennial Environmental Justice Science, Data, and Research Plan. The research plan will provide recommendations to federal, state, local, tribal and territorial agencies on developing and using science, data and research to support environmental justice policy.

U.S. COAST GUARD

MEETING. National Chemical Transportation Safety Advisory Committee (Hybrid, Nov 28-30, 2023). The National Chemical Transportation Safety Advisory Committee (Committee) will conduct a series of meetings over three days in League City, TX, to discuss matters relating to the safe and secure marine transportation of hazardous materials. Pre-registration is required for in-person access to the meeting or to attend the subcommittee meetings by videoconference.

MEETING. National Maritime Security Advisory Committee (Virtual, Dec. 5, 2023; 1-3pm EST). The National Maritime Security Advisory Committee (Committee) will conduct a virtual meeting to discuss the Committee’s final recommendations concerning ways to enhance cyber security information sharing between the U. S. Coast Guard and Marine Transportation System (MTS) stakeholders. The virtual meeting will be open to the public.

NWC SPOTLIGHT

 RECAP. 2023 Annual Meeting (Oct. 2-4, 2023/Sacramento):  We extend our sincere appreciation to those of you who were able to join us for the National Waterways Conference’s (NWC) 2023 Annual Meeting in Sacramento, California, held from October 2- 4, 2023. While we initially had concerns about the potential impact of a federal government shutdown on our lineup of speakers, we were pleased to witness that many of our federal government speakers were able to join us in person. However, for those who presented virtually, their contributions were equally valuable. Regardless of the mode of presentation, all sessions and interactions proved to be rewarding, and the networking opportunities were equally beneficial for everyone involved. For a day-by-day snapshot of the meeting, as well as specific sessions (with presentations), check out our 2023 Annual Meeting Recap page.

SAVE THE DATE. 2024 Legislative Summit Dates Set (March 11-13, 2024; Washington, D.C.). NWC members, we will be holding the 2024 Legislative Summit on March 11-13, 2024 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC from Monday, March 11 through Wednesday, March 13, 2024. More information, including registration, will be released soon. For the latest information, check out our 2024 Legislative Summit page.

INTERESTED IN FEDERAL POLICY ISSUES? Next NWC Legislative Policy Committee Monthly Meeting (Monday, Nov. 6 at 4pm EST). During these monthly meetings, someone (usually Julie) will give a 60,000 overview on what’s going on in DC that may impact movement of water/waterways issues before diving into specific issues. Additionally at this meeting, members are given the opportunity to share intel, including issues they are following and/or working on. LPC is NWC’s primary arbitrator on federal policy positions and is open to all interested in NWC members.

SHOULD WATER SUPPLY BE A USACE MISSION? (Date/time TBD). During the week of Nov. 6, we are working to set up a meeting with Ryan Seiger, Staff Director for the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment (House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee) to discuss Rep. Grace Napolitano’s proposal to elevate water supply to a primary mission of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  Seiger requested a meeting with NWC members to discuss the intent of the language and engage in discussion about potential solutions.  It is possible this language will be in play for WRDA 2024.  If you are interested in getting information about this meeting, please let Julie know.